350 



SHAD. Class IV. 



when drefied in that manner will very nearly intox- 

 icate the eater. 



In Great Britain the Severn affords this fifh in 

 higher perfection than any other river. It makes 

 its firft appearance there in May, but in very 

 warm feafons in April; for its arrival, fooner or 

 later, depends much on the temper of the air. It 

 continues in the river about two months, and then 

 is fucceeded by a variety which we fhall have oc- 

 cafion to mention hereafter. 



The Severn fhad is efteemed a very delicate fifh 

 about the time of its firft appearance, efpecially in 

 that part of the river that flows by Gloucefter, where 

 they are taken in nets, and ufually fell dearer than 

 falmon : fome are fent to London, where the fifh- 

 mongers diftinguifh them from thofe of the Thames, 

 by the French name of Alofe. 



Whether they fpawn in this river and the Wye is 

 not determined, for their fry has not yet been afcer- 

 tained. The old fiih come from the fea into the 

 river in full roe. In the months of July and Augufi, 

 multitudes of bleak frequent the river near Glou- 

 cefter-y fome of them are as big as a fmall herring, 

 and thefe the fifhermen erroneoufly fufpect to be 

 the fry of the fhad. Numbers of thefe are taken 

 near Gloucefier in thofe months only, but none of 

 the emaciated fhad are ever caught in their re- 

 turn *• 



* Belon alfo obferves, that none are taken in their return, on 



Us trend en montant contre Us rivieres, et jamais en defendant. 



The 



